Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the legislative proposal to remove Sport England as a statutory consultee in planning decisions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the protection of playing fields.

Access to open green spaces and playing fields is crucial to the government’s ambitions to increase physical activity levels across the nation and deliver on its Health Mission. We remain committed to protecting and extending our playing field capacity. The National Planning Policy Framework ensures these interests are maintained in the planning system. Sport England plays an important role in developing local development and strategic plans, and through the publication of guidance and advice.

The government is committed to reviewing the existing statutory consultee arrangements to ensure they align with the government’s ambitions for growth. As per the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510), we intend to consult on removing a limited number of statutory consultees, including Sports England. We also intend to review the range and type of planning applications on which statutory consultees are required to be consulted and consider whether some types of application could be removed, or addressed by alternative means of engagement and provision of expert advice. Further details will be set out in due course.